miller



(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. J. MILLER.

ROAD CART.

Patented Oct. 4, 1887 WITNESSES INVENTOR v ATTORNEYJ' (No Model.) 3 Sheets$het 2.

H. J. MILLER.

ROAD CART. No. 371,090. Patented Oct. 4, 1887.

INVENTOR v WIIZWES: 5 i zfl ,ptmew ATTORNEYJ' N PETERS, PhqmLixho nher. Wahiugtnn, D. C.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. J. MILLER.

ROAD CART. No. 371,090. Patented 0011.4, 1887.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR i/ $7 ZM 27/, ATTORNEY! I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. MILLER, OF, oosHEu, NEW YORK.

ROAD-CA RT.

$PECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,090, dated October 4, 1887.

Application filed September 28, [81-6. Serial No. 214.766. (No model.)

To a,ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY J. MILLER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Goshen, in the county of Orange and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Road-Carts, Sulkics, or other Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to what is known as a single road-cart, or a cart adapted in size and structure for the use of a single person only, althoughit may be applied, with slight modifications in construction, to a phaeton-eart and to other vehicles having a larger seat than the single roadcart above mentioned.

The objects of my invention are primarily ,to construct a cart which will have a spring or springs for supporting the seat, so as to make a more comfortable vehicleto ride in than the ordinary road-cart now in use; and, secondly, to provide a brace or braces for keeping the seat in its proper relative position, and also for partly supporting the same, as will be de scribed; and, thirdly, to provide springs which seat upon the axle of the vehicle and support the rear ends of the shafts, said springs being each composed of two branches having a relative longitudinal movement for the purpose of reducing the effect of any shock or jar to the vehicle occasioned by the said vehicle coming in contact with .any stone or other unevenness upon the road, or at least of reducing the shock or jar to a minimum, and thereby rendering it com paratively harmless.

The other objects of my invention will be hereinafter particularly referred to, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the Specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved road-cart. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, looking from the rear. Fig. 4 is a detail view.

In the drawings, A A represent the two wheels connected by the axle B. Upon suitable bearings, C,are arranged and attached the lower branches of my springs D. The fore ends of these springs D are attached to the shafts E at points F. The upper branches, G, of these springs are connected to the lower branches at the rear, and are so arranged as to have a relative sliding movement longitudinally between the upper and lower branches of the springs. The object of this is, as before stated, to render the vehicle less liable to the disagreeable effects of shocks and sudden jars occasioned by any impediment in the roadway, the sliding movement between the upper and lower branches of the springs being sufficient to take up and neutralize any unevenness of motion on the part ofthe wheels. In the drawings I have shown the upper branches of the springs as provided with ears G, which fit over the rear ends of the lower branches, and with pins H, which extend through the said ears and thelongitudinal slots or openings arranged in the lower branches of the springs. illustrated in Fig. 3 and in detail'in Fig. 4. The longitudinal movement, however, may be secured in other ways, and I do not limit myself to the exact means shown. The upper branches of these springs are attached to the shafts at points K, and'the rear ends of the shafts are connected together by a crossbar, L. This latter constitutes a brace as well as a connection between the shafts, and I consider it a veryimportant and valuable feature of my invention.

Near the rear ends of the shafts are secured rings M, to which are attached the ends of a spring, N, which curves upwardly and supports a centrally-located seat, 0.

Attached to each side of the seat are braces P, which extend downwardly and forwardly, and finally upwardly to the shafts, to which they are pivotally connected. The braces 1? also serve to support the seat to some extent, and are valuable in that connection. Midway of these braces and between their horizontal portions I extend suitable pieces, which constitute foot'rests R for the feet of the occupant of the vehicle.

The improvements in construction which I have described aim at lightness, durability,

and comfort, as well as economy in manufacture, which desirable results I have obtained to a higher degree in my road-cart than any similar vehicle hitherto produced.

As before stated, I may apply my invention to other vehicles beside road-carts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Ina roadcart or other vehicle, the com This is bination of the transverse spring attached at its ends to theshafts and supporting a centrallylocated seat, the said shafts resting upon other springs, as shown and described.

2. In a road-cart or other two-wheeled vehicle, the springs for supporting the shafts, constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described, in combination with said shafts, the transversely-arranged spring extending between and attached to them, the centrallylocated seat upon said spring, and the downwardly and forwardly extending braces and supporters connected directly to the seat and pivotally to the shafts, all arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a roadcart or other two-wheeled vehicle, the combination of the springs arranged parallel with the length of the vehicle, and whose lower branches are rigidly attached to the axle and shafts of the vehicle, and whose upper branches are attached to the shafts and are flexibly connected to-the lower branches in such a manner as to have a sliding longi tudinal movement therein.

4. In a road-cart or other two-wheeled vehicle, the combination of the springs arranged downwardly extending shafts connected rigo idly together at their rear ends by means of the crossbar, as shown, said shafts being supported by springs located parallel therewith, bot-h springs consisting of a long and short branch, and each branch being attached sepa- 45 rately to the aforesaid shafts, as and for the purposesset forth;

HENRY J. KILLER.

Witnesses:

G. W. COLEMAN, WILLIAM HARDENBERGH. 

